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Indie Author Spotlight

Welcome to my first Indie Author Spotlight.

I’m been lucky enough to share a close bond with a few other indie authors, and we love supporting each other. So… Indie Author Spotlight was born. Each week, I’ll introduce you to someone that I not only love their amazing novels, but am lucky enough to call, my friends.

First up, Andee Michelle. For those of you, not familiar with her books… WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Defining Moments is one of my top reads ever. ❤

Her 3rd book just released this last week, and let me tell you. Holy wow. I loved every single word.

Andee sat down for a few minutes in her busy day to answer some questions for us. Enjoy getting to know Andee. She’s amazing. And well, don’t tell her but… I sort of love her. She’s good people, so I might as well keep her around. 😀 (I kid, I kid.)

1. What/Who inspires you to write?

I’ve always loved to write, but they were always stories super personal to me and I never let anyone read them. They were stories that tied into things that were happening in my life. They helped me cope with a lot of things and were very therapeutic for me to write. Once I decided to give self-publishing a try, I had to step outside my comfort zone because my published stories are fiction. My family is who inspires me the most. We’ve all been through hell and back. Their strength is much of my inspiration.

2. Do you listen to a certain musician/band while writing? Watch a certain television show? Or do you require complete silence?

I don’t really watch TV very often. Football and the Food Network is about the extent of my TV time. I used to need complete silence when I wrote, which wasn’t easy in a house full of boys and dogs. Now, it’s almost impossible for me to write unless I have music playing. I think it helps me write with more emotion… and less distraction. I have an extremely eclectic taste in music. I love metal, country, hip-hop, and even classical. My newest music obsession is Lindsey Sterling though. She’s an amazing violinist.

3. Finding Our Forever is Eli’s story. For fans of Defining Moments, we already know him. For new readers, tell us why we need to read his story? Why did Eli demand that his story be told?

I never intended Defining Moments to become a series. It was supposed to be a story about Ellie, a woman, who after a long marriage and a lifetime of raising her babies, finds herself single. It’s her journey to find herself again, to love herself again and to let love into her life again. But the more I wrote, the more I fell in love with all the other characters too. Eli is one of Ellie’s twins. He’s the smart ass one. The fun one. The one determined to NOT end up in a relationship like his parents’. Ben, Eli’s twin, is up next. He’s the dark, broody bad boy.

4. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? Best compliment?

So, toughest criticism… that’s tough (see what I did there? 😉 ). I knew going into self-publishing that I would never please everyone with my stories. I remind myself of that every single time I see a bad review. I read them, take notes on what some feel I need to strengthen in my writing, and move on. I feel like some of the hardest ones to read are the ones helping me become a better writer.

As for best compliment, I can’t pick just one. When Defining Moments came out, I was FLOORED at the response I got. I received so many messages and emails from women who just loved this story, and felt it like I did. I shed a lot of tears over those messages. Knowing that Ellie’s story touched so many made my heart happy. Still does.

5. Sometimes I like to imagine that I’m my favorite book character, (don’t judge). If you could be any character for one day, who would you be? Why?

Oh shit. That’s a hard one. I kind of feel like I become a character in every book when I’m reading. I’m one of those people that can literally read through a hurricane because I get so lost in that world. Off the top of my head, I’d say Tate Collins… cause ya know, Miles Archer. ❤

6. What are 2 things that would surprise readers to know about you?

After Defining Moments came out, like I mentioned earlier, I got a lot of messages. Some from women who thought it was my personal story. I remember one even saying something like “only a woman who has been through this would be able to capture the pain and emotion of it.” They were extremely surprised to find out that I’ve been happily married for more than 18 years.